Billiard-cue chalker



arten *raras B|LL|ARDCUE CHALKER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 519,356, dated May 8,1894. Application filed February 10. 1893. Serial Nin-461,771. (Nomodel.)

To ai? whom it may concern:

.1 3e 1t known that I, GEORGE SOUTHWELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at- Westport, 1n .the county of Jackson and State of Missouri,have invented certain'new and useful Improvements in Billiard-ue"Chalkers, of which the following is a specification, reference belnghad therein to the accompanying drawmgs.

0 My invention relatesV to that class of billiard cue chalkers whereinthe chalk is held 111 a revoluble holder which is operated by pressureapplied to the chalk with the cue.

The obJect of my invention is to provide a cue chalker easily operated,efficient,` and cheap to manufacture. The peculiarities of my inventionare fully set forth hereinafter.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrative of my lnvention, Figure lrepresents a side elevation view having the cue guide and chalk holdershown in vertical section. Fig. 2 rep resents a plan View of the guideframewith the other parts removed. Fig. 3 represents the guide plate inperspective. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of a portion of frameshowingthe notches P. Fig. 5 represents 1n perspective the form of the chalkintended to be used in my chalk holder, and is shown with its endsreversed to illustrate the opening in the bottom of the chalk.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts throughout thedifferent views.

A, indicates a cylindrical thimble, preferably metallic, and having itsupperopen end enlarged at R. A funnel-shaped cue guide also madepreferably from sheet metal, has `its lower end, which is the small end,tightly iitted within the upper end of the chalk holder A.. The upperend of the funnel-shaped cue guide B, is cupped inwardly as indicated byS for the purpose of preventing particles of chalk from rolling out ofthe funnel'or guide. Secured to the chalk holder on its inside andcentrally located at the lower end thereof, is a nut T which is adaptedto the screwthreaded projection U, upon the upper end of a cylindricalrod C, which passes through an opening in the center of the bottom ofthe chalk holder. The lower end of the rod C, is provided with aprojection K, that is Smaller in diameter than the rod and is tightlythe guide` fitted within an opening adapted to it in the upper end of aspiral guide rod D. Between the guide rod D, and the cylindrical rod C,is secured a washer H, provided with an opening fitting the projectingend K, of the rod C. The guide frame E, is preferably formed from ametallicstrip into the shape similar to the letter A, the two legs beingof unequal length and the lower `ends of said legs being bent so as toform the feet M, through which screws may pass to secure the frameworkto the Hoor, or other convenient place of fastening. The upper end ofthe guide frame E, is provided with a round central opening O, shown inFig. 2, through which the rod C, mayl operate up and down. A transverseguide plate F, parallel to the top of the guide frame, is rectangularinshape and is provided with an opening L, conforming in shape to Vatransverse section of the spiral guide rod D, which is adapted tooperate, upward and downward, through the said opening L. At each cornerof theguide plate F, is a projection adapted to fit within acorresponding opening or notch P, in the edge of one of the legs of theframework E. The said notches P, are shown in Figs. 2 and 4, each ofsaid legs being provided with two of said notches. Two elastic rings I,and J, are slipped over the rod C, one on each side, respectively, ofthe top of the guide frame E. These rings serve as buffers to preventthe noise of striking when the mechanism is operated. Encircling thespiralguide rod D, is a coil spring G the lower end of which has abearing upon the upper face of the guide plate F,

the upper end bearing upon the lower side of the washer H. Upon theinner periphery and near the lower end of the chalk holder A, areinwardly extending projections Q preferably formed by indenting thesides of the chalk holder AA, and adapted to serve as a means ofpreventing the chalk from revolving in the holder. The nut T, which issecured to the bottom of the chalk holder,may be of any shape exceptinground. I prefer to make it square in shape. I also intend to have thecylinderof chalk molded with a depression in the bottom correspondin ginshape to the nut T, and of a size adapted to receive the nut. Thisfeature of construction fur ICQ nishes an additional safe-guard againstthe liability of the cylinder of chalk turning within the holder.Indeed, as against the liability of turning in the holder forming thebottom end of the chalk so as to fit over the nut T, is of itselfsuicient. However, I prefer to use the projections Q, to prevent thechalk from bounding upward out of the holder, which might occur if thecue were suddenly withdrawn.

I have found by actual demonstration, that either means just describedfor preventing turning of the chalk in the holder, may be dispensed withif the other is retained, the best results being obtained in thisrespect however, when both means are employed. The guide plate F, may bemade of most any material having rigidity. I prefer, however, to make itof a material that produces little noise when the guide rod D, is forcedthrough the openingL, therein. I have found that vulcanized ber servesadmirably as a material from which to make the guide plate F. I preferto make the guide rod D, from square brass or Bessemersteel rod, anyform of spiral, however, will answer, it being necessary only that theopening L, conforms in shape to the cross section of the guide rod.

I have found that the most convenient place for using the chalk holderis to secure it to the iloor underneath the billiard table. In order tomake it easily accessible to the cue, and to prevent its acting as anobstruction to the feet, it is placed on the iioor at an angle from theperpendicular, some little distance within the space directly under thetable.

The following is a description of the manner of setting up the cuechalkerz-The washer H, is placed over the projecting end K, of the rodC, said projection K, is then forced into the opening at one end of theguide rod D. For security, it may be well to solder together the rods C,and D, where they are united. The rubber washer J, is then placed on therod C, upon the upper side of the washer H. The rod C, is thenthrustthrough the opening O, said rod C, then being furnished with therubber washer or ring I. The guide plate F, is fitted to the spiral rodD, coil spring G, having been previously slipped over the said guide rodD. The legs of the guide frame E, are then opened sufficiently to permitthe projecting corners of the guide plate F, to enter the notches P, inthe legs of the framework. The legs of the framework E, are then forcedtogether so as to securely clamp between them the guide plate F. Thefeet M, are now screwed to the floor or other place of attachment. Thecylindrical piece of chalk is placed within the chalk holder in such aposition that the depression in the lower side of the chalk is in properregister with the nut T. The chalk is then forced to the bottom of theholder, the projections Q, cutting a pathway in the sides of the chalkblock. The chalk holder is then screwed upon the projecting end U, ofthe rod C, and the mechanism is ready to operate. In operating the cuechalker, the cue is inserted in the cue guide B, and against the upperside of the block of chalk, pressure being applied to the cue 'the chalkholder is forced downward together with the rods C, and D. During thedownward motion of the rod D, it also takes a circumferential motion,due to its spiral shape, and the opening L, in the guide plate thusimparting a rotating motion to the block of chalk, by which means thetip of the cue is thoroughly chalked. Upon withdrawing the pressure ofthe cuc from the chalk, the tension of thecompressed coilspring G,causes the rod D, to be forced upward and to revolve it to its originalposition.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

In a cue chalker, the combination with a chalk holder, of a spiral guiderod connected therewith, the guide frame E, provided at its upper endwith a guide opening O, through which the guide rod operates, thetransverse guide plate F, provided with another guide opening L, throughwhich the guide rod passes, a projection at each corner of the guideplate F, adapted to t within the notches P, in the legs of the guideframe E, and means for retracting the guide rod, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE SOUTHWELL. Witnesses:

JOHN MCCRAY, FRANK. O. WARD.

